Big Mac and Guantanamo

I don’t know if Mark McGwire took steroids. And unless you’re his dealer, you don’t know either.

I could make a good argument against McGwire as a Hall of Famer on his merits as a player: his peak was too short, all he did was homer and draw walks, his numbers are inflated by the era.

But the argument that he’s a steroid user and thus not worthy of the Hall bugs me a lot. It follows the Bush Administration doctrine of presumed guilt with no chance of being proven innocent.

Look, here’s a guy who told Congress the truth: that nothing is to be gained by going back and examining the past. But as Jack Nicholson once said in a movie, “You can’t handle the truth.” What that Congress, and the BBWAA, wanted was a lie he could get away with.

Remember how for months everyone celebrated Rafael Palmeiro’s finger-waving? If he had retired and never been tested again, Palmeiro would STILL be held up as the perfect example for America’s youth.

The Hall did not exclude Cap Anson for being an outright racist who helped keep black players out of the game for decades. Nor did it exclude Ty Cobb, who sharpened his spikes and tried to hurt people.

Gaylord Perry was more famous for cheating than pitching. He’s in the Hall.

But tell Congress the truth, rather than pander to a conservative suburban middle-class fantasy of wholesomeness? That’s unforgivable.

Now sportswriters are moralizing about how McGwire should confess. Why? What’s to be gained? The home runs were hit, the games were won (many by steroid-using pitchers) or lost.

Perhaps the BBWAA will forgive McGwire after this desired confession. After all, it’s working out so well for Pete Rose.